The Supreme Court handed down some big decisions on Monday, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around them all. Let me tell you, folks, it’s been a wild ride. The court gave President Trump a significant win by allowing him to remove leaders of independent federal agencies at will, which could change the way the government functions. But, on the other hand, they made it harder for him to remove members of the Federal Reserve, which is a big deal.
The decisions were related to two separate cases, one involving Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, who was fired from the Federal Trade Commission by Trump, and another involving Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who Trump tried to fire over allegations of mortgage fraud. The court ruled that Trump can fire Slaughter, but they said he can’t fire Cook without following proper procedures.
The court’s decision on Slaughter’s case overturned a 1935 precedent that allowed Congress to include restrictions on when a president can fire the leaders of certain independent agencies. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the president should have the power to control the leaders of independent agencies within the federal government.
Meanwhile, the court dealt Trump a personal defeat by letting stand a verdict against him for sexually abusing and defaming former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll. By declining to hear Trump’s appeal, the court paved the way for Carroll to collect $5 million in damages.
In another case, the court allowed states to collect and count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, which is a big deal for voting rights. The court’s conservative majority said that state laws allowing mail-in ballots to be counted after Election Day are valid.
The court’s decisions have significant implications for the balance of power in the government and the independence of federal agencies. Justice Sonia Sotomayor read an impassioned dissent warning that the decision could lead to “only chaos” and fundamentally recalibrate the balance of power in the nation.
Overall, it’s been a big day for the Supreme Court, and these decisions will have far-reaching consequences. And let’s be real, folks, it’s not every day that you see the Supreme Court tell the President of the United States that he can’t just fire someone without following the rules. So, that’s a win for the rule of law, if you ask me. 🙄
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
